The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-12-29
MINES AND MINING.
FriscO's Crater.
BEAVER, UTAH. Dec. 10. 1881

BEAVER, UTAH, Dec, 10, 1887
To The Editor Of the Standard
A short time ago-six or eight
weeks. I think, l wrote you short
letter from Frisco, the most import
ant mining town in Beaver county
and the most southerly point reached
by rail in the Territory Of Utah.
think that | promised if | remember
well, to tell something more about
this place.
The ascent to Frisco is very steep
the rise being 100 feet in IL miles
right up the mountain side, but Frisco
is reached through little gap narrow
and smooth, while the sides of the
hills around about the town are also
regular and smooth, the town itself
occupying the centre of considerable
depression. Geological scientists tell
us that it's site is an extinct crater
not thereof proving that it is the
crater Of an extinct volcano, while
indeed that is believed to be the
case.
Being then the crater and well up
to the summit of the range of
mountains-it affords the student of
our old world fine field for the
prosecution Of his studies. The great
book containing the record of creation
lies thus open before him. and he has
but to turn back the leaf like strata
one after another and read upon them
in Gods own fnger-marks the great
wonderful story of the foundation of
of the world.
From Frisco, the strata slope down.
ward in every direction, and there is
the centre of the crater is found, that
extra quality Of silver known as horn
silver, which comes from the ground
almost pure. Here is located the
Horn-Silver Mine, which at one time
sold for five million dollars, making
three comparatively poor men wealthy.
suppose there is more real down.
right risk in mining than in any
other legitimate business in the wide
world. The ore is not irregular in its
formation there being no solid clear
ly defined vein, but, at best only a
ledge which at intervals contains the
metal; sometimes it occurs in
pocket" s"-or great bodies, almost
entirely disconnected from the
balance of the mineral.
l have in mind many Of these
pockets which l seen in different
mines throughout the Territory: one
has made its owner wealthy now
three times, yet each time, instead of
saving his money and stopping, he
spends it all hunting in the same
mine for another pocket, and this
year after year, hoping often against
hope,-indeed against reason. Many
live there and die poor. Every night
when they retire to their little cabins
where | have slept many night
when among the mountains hunting
the Lords ''lost sheep"-when they
go to bed, or bunk: at night, they
think, "Now, just one more day or
two will bring me to the stuff pas
the westerner call money, and thus
for life. The only difference between
some Of these and the Siberian mines
is that in Christian America, the
miner is free. One old gentleman in
Ophir canyon comes now in my mind.
He came here from the estates" years
ago in 1861 with the army. He is
Kentuckian by birth, shaker by
training, an infdel by choice, and
poor man by force of circumstances.
Well, he has a little hole in the
ground up in Ophir, where he. has
been pegging away for years, and
years, but the 'Grand Alamagoozlum
as he calls his mine, or hole, never
pans out very well. He has good ore,
but the qu antity is so small that in
the fall he manages to have about
three or four tons, which produce him
money enough at from 800. to 800.
per ton to grub him and his family
through the winter.
Such is a sample of many who
live-not a lazzy bone in their bodies
and labor, hoping, trusting during
their natural lives. May they find at
last the pearl of Great Price,"
J. D. GILLIAN.